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Communist Vietnam's secret death penalty conveyor belt: How country trails only China and Iran for 'astonishing' number of executions

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Prisoners are dragged from their cells at 4am without warning to be given a lethal injection Vietnam's use of the death penalty has been thrust into the spotlight after a real estate tycoon was on Thursday sentenced to be executed in one of the biggest corruption cases in the country's history. Truong My Lan, a businesswoman who chaired a sprawling company that developed luxury apartments, hotels, offices and shopping malls, was arrested in 2022.

Indonesia rejects Australia Bali Nine prisoner swap offer

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Senior Commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo with Myuran Sukumaran, on the plane
taking Chan and Sukumaran to Nusakambangan Prison Island. Photo: Kompas TV
Indonesia has rejected a last-ditch offer from Australia of a prisoner swap aimed at saving the lives of two Australian men on death row.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told the BBC that Indonesia had no law to provide for such an exchange.

Earlier Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed the swap offer was among options being explored.

Ms Bishop had announced the offer to repatriate three Indonesian convicts in return for the two Australian men in a joint news conference with Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

"What we are seeking to do is have an opportunity to talk about options that might be available in the area of prisoner transfer or prisoner swap," she said.

The offer was made to Ms Bishop's Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, who "undertook to provide that information to the president", Ms Bishop said.

The Australian government was exploring "every avenue that might be available to save the lives of these two men", she added.

Mr Abbott said that he was seeking another telephone call with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to attempt to persuade him to show the men mercy.

"I've put in a request. I can't guarantee that the request will be met, but I've certainly put in a request," said Mr Abbott.


Source: BBC News, March 5, 2015


Bali nine executions: Prisoner swap 'unthinkable' says Indonesian Attorney-General H.M. Prasetyo

Senior Commissioner Djoko Hari Utomo poses for
a photo with Andrew Chan. Photo: Kompas TV
A prisoner swap suggested by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in a last ditch bid to spare the lives of the Bali nine ringleaders is "unthinkable", according to Indonesia's Attorney General.

And Defence minister Ryamizard Ryacudu even suggested Australia execute Indonesian drug smugglers.

Ms Bishop raised the prospect of a prisoner swap with her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on Tuesday.

The deal could involve three Indonesians in prison in Australia over their role in an infamous 1998 drug bust.

However Attorney-General H.M. Prasetyo said a prisoner swap was irrelevant to Indonesia's plans to execute Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

"What is certain is that it has never been done and is unthinkable," he said.

Meanwhile Indonesian diplomats told the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday that a moratorium on the death penalty could be reintroduced - just as the country prepared to execute 10 drug felons including Chan and Sukumaran.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera Indonesian president Joko Widodo said the executions would not be held this week but would take place soon.

Chan and Sukumaran are now incarcerated in isolation cells in Besi prison on Nusakambangan, which means 'iron prison', a reference to the original iron walls and roof.


Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, March 5, 2015

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